I feel like I've been writing this a lot the last week, but the next few days are big for the Nationals.

Perhaps they brought this upon themselves with that five-game losing streak, putting added pressure on each subsequent game, but it's a fact. The Nats really need to play good baseball this weekend against an Orioles club that is in disarray. Two out of three is a must, if only to ensure their record remains above .500 heading into a tough West Coast swing to San Francisco and San Diego (plus Houston) next week.

Scott Olsen is on the mound tonight, hoping to extend his surprisingly dominant run. Perhaps his teammates will supply him with some run support for a change. He hasn't received a decision in his last three starts, despite giving up a total of four earned runs in the process.

Interesting lineup twist for Jim Riggleman: Slumping Nyjer Morgan is on the bench. Roger Bernadina's in center field, with Willie Harris in right.

Nyjer gets benched for at least a game … and look there's Willie? Leading off with .182 and a .289 OPB, followed by a guy with a lifetime .308 OBP? Who is hitting abysmally when he bats left-handed? At least put Kennedy at second batting second with Guzman in right field batting lower in the order? Why not try Bernadina as lead off? These are days when you wonder what Riggleman is thinking and where he gets those thoughts.

Man, and I'm wearing my T Plush shirt to the game tonight. Hope the benching motivates better defensive thinking. I can excuse a batting slump and, be Nyj needs to step it up on the defensive side and get his brain in the game when running the basepaths too.

I'm guessing Desmond ultimately lands in the 2 slot. Just a matter of how long it takes Riggleman to realize that is where he belongs. Give the young stud some protection and dump one of the other losers in the 8 slot.

I too would like to know what is up with Harris leading off. Either Desmond or Bernadina would be a much better choice at this point. Give the young guys a chance. You never know, it might actually work.

Mark,Nyjer is not just slumping with the bat, but mentally he doesn't seem to be in the game, i.e. poor base running, poor fielding (in the park homer)as well as other balls off the wall and bad throwing twice that I remember in just last night's game. Is anything going on with him or is he just pressing?Also, Dibs really goes off a lot on the pitch selection. Who calls the pitches? Catcher, bench? I don't see the pitchers shaking off the pitch selection a lot.

Anon 3:41 Willie needs playing time. Why don't you try to remember that Guzzie played 2 years half blind! No wonder his "lifetime" OBP is a little low.I'm real happy with the way Riggleman is calling the shots. At least we're competive! Every game we 've got a shot to win===more than one could say last year.

Good question cadeck13I think Rigleman knows exactly what he is doing. We leave Monday for a road trip that will decide who is on the roster when they return and SS arrives. I do not think for a minute that management is going to allow SS to endure the poor fielding we witnessed last night. Everyone has been discussing at length the pitching moves that have to happen, but I would not sell Rizzo short. I think that some of the trade packages being kicked around will include all Milledge type fielders/baserunners.They play Guz because of his attitude and to showcase his bat. He is doing much better from the left side and could alos be part of a package.

@cadeck 13: "Also, Dibs really goes off a lot on the pitch selection." Wouldn't put too much stock in what Dibbs says. If you pay attention he will say one thing one minute because it sounds good and makes sense… then quite often just minutes later will say the complete opposite and it too sounds good. In general he seems to just talk out of his arse quite a bit. Case in point last night, regarding Atilano's pitch selection. In one breath he complained that Atilano wasn't throwing his sinker, that he had "gotten away from his strength" as he put it, "and his strength is his sinker." Then, IN THE SAME AT BAT, he commented that sometimes when your best pitch isn't working you have to go to something out: "I don't know why he isn't throwing his cutter more." Two completely contradictory statements, each made with such conviction that he seemed to be implying each was just common sense and what the hell is wrong with these pitchers? Dibbs=Not the best analyst. Colorful, but not exactly a Rhodes scholar.

Jaxpo Nat – yeah, I hear what you are saying about Dibs, but I'm still curious as to who calls the game for the Nationals the catcher or the bench. I asked Dibble that question on air last year and he never gave me a straight up answer.

It is my understanding that nearly all major league catchers call their own games. The only time they look over at the bench is for calls on the running game (pitchouts, pickoffs, etc). Not so in college where almost no catchers call their own games. That is why you often hear coaches lament the fact that, even though a catching prospect might be ready otherwise, they haven't yet learned to properly call a game yet so they need a little more time. Consider what Sabean recently said about Buster Posey: Sabean said Posey was "still learning how to catch. Some of that is game calling. Some of that is the consistency that he'll need as, we hope, an offensive catcher." I guarantee you Pudge calls his own game (and Nieves for that matter). You won't see them look at the bench unless there is a runner on base, and even then it is just to check baserunner calls.

@allWillie Harris is probably being rewarded for his Pinch Hit at bat last night in a game where a lot of people had poor performances. I think that this lineup is some kind of message to his ballplayers. I'm going to reward Guz and Harris for good professional at bats last night. I'm going to punish Nyjer Morgan for his defense a little bit, and I'm going to keep playing Bernadina every day while getting a look at his defense in CF. I'm not going to put Desmond early in the lineup because his defense yesterday didn't earn him at bats. Also, remember that Riggleman likes the RLR stuff down in the order. Desmond doesn't take enough pitches for me to bat leadoff. I'd like to see him batting 6th because I think he'll be better the rest of the year than Pudge is and is more likely of some pop should OBP guys Dunn and Hammer get on base. I don't think that's going to happen because Riggles is loyal to his veterans. Good for the clubhouse, I suppose, but not as appealing to us fans or to the guys who try to make more decisions purely based on current and likely future production.

To answer all the questions about pitch selection … the Nats always let their catchers call the pitches. Pudge in particular has made a real impression with the pitching staff. Most guys insist they hardly ever feel the need to shake him off.

MLBTR says Roy Oswalt has requested a trade to a contender. Assuming the Nats are a contender, what would it take to get him if hte Nats ate all of his contract $31M total through '11. Detwiler? Espinosa and Chico? Is he worth it to the Nats for a year an a half and does he fit into "the plan" for the Nats?

@ The Great UnwashedDibble does that all the time. I too often wonder what must be going through Carpenter's head sometimes. He seems like a pretty details-oriented guy and you know sometimes he must be thinking "whatever Rob," but obviously wouldn't want to call out his partner. Or maybe he doesn't notice because he is too busy scribbling in his patented scorebook.

@wpcorbett…Don't know about Desmond yet.For the Orioles, Adam Jones is slumping this year and very well may improve. Miggy on a short term deal would not be bad and he could be a tradable piece for them at the deadline. Wiggington's been raking and has had an out of body experience to this point.Otherwise, you got me.

I'd rather include Marrero than Espinosa in a deal for Oswalt. I would not trade Detwiller though. Marrero doesn't really have a position, whereas Danny and Ian can be our middle infield for years to come. Detwiler's still young so I'd rather deal Stammen (who reportedly had value over the winter). Considering the amount of salary the Nats would have to pick up, maybe a deal can be worked out without giving up our top guys. We'll see.As for the plan, Oswalt is only 32 (I think) and you can never have too much pitching. Plus, having a real ace in Oswalt will take some pressure off of SJS. And a '11 rotation of Oswalt, SJS, Zimmermann, Wang and Lannan/Olsen/Detwiler could be a division favorite depending on how the Phillies' offseason plays out (especially if we can steal Werth for RF).

This is being purely silly, but since we're talking about the Astros, how about a package deal where we swap Bourn and Pence for Nyjer, Bally, and Mock? Bourn for Nyjer is a pretty straight trade IMHO.

Dibs is a jerk-along who just likes to hear himself talk. The reason Carp doesn't call him out for his diametically opposite thoughts within the same inning is Carp is too dumb to realize they make no sense.Bring back Ron Darling.